Pau FC
- Pau FC have had a much more successful Ligue 2 campaign than Grenoble Foot 38 to date, sitting eighth in the table with 27 points from 19 games compared to their visitors’ 13th placed standing and 21 points from the same 19 matches.
- Nicolas Usai is the pragmatic tactician of the two managers, usually setting Pau up in a compact 4-3-1-2 that is solid in defensive structure, but can counter attack with venom when necessary.
- Usai’s side have been competitive in most matches he has overseen this season, conceding just 15 goals in 10 home Ligue 2 games, and keeping them in games even when they have not been at their best.
Grenoble Foot 38
- Franck Rizzetto’s approach could not be more different as he prefers to get his team to play pro-actively in a 3-5-2 system, with the wingers taking the initiative to press and make forward runs.
- This philosophy has seen Grenoble become a much more direct and high-energy team, but also one that has leaked goals at an alarming rate, conceding 15 in just nine away games.
Head-to-Head
- Pau FC have won three and drawn two of the last five head-to-heads and are unbeaten in two home meetings with Grenoble Foot 38 (W1, D1).
- The fixture also usually sees both sides playing at their maximum and it is a test of each manager’s ability to tailor their tactics to the opposition.
- Pau will sit back and look to counter, while Grenoble will try to force the issue and play on the wings.
Betting Insights
However, both teams have conceded 15 goals apiece in their home and away games respectively, so we feel Both Teams To Score at 2.0 is an enticing option for this game.
Prediction
With home advantage, the history of the fixture and the fact Grenoble are in poor form, we are taking Usai’s Pau to just about edge this tight matchup and are siding with them at 1.9 .
